Month: November 2016

Today I woke up to the smell of smoke, not unusual for this time of year, but today it was close enough to see the flumes lapping over the ridge line 5 kms away. Our valley usually floods at this time of year and the local saying is that someone only has to pee upstream and we’re under. In this age of climate change, it seems not even Bellingen is drought proof. Earlier this week we moved to level 3 water restrictions and at this rate, with no rain forecast, we’ll be at level 4 very soon, the first time in nearly 30 years. Despite her resilience, it’s clear nature does not have an endless supply of resources and when the balance is out, she’s vulnerable just like us.

Lately I’ve felt very grateful for the isolation of my hilltop perch far removed from the chaos of global affairs. Has the world really become an uncertain, turbulent and unharmonious place to be right now? The lyrics of Elvis Costello’s “what’s so funny ’bout peace, love and understanding” couldn’t be more relevant. As is my bent, I started thinking about what we can learn from nature and her wisdoms to help us make sense of it all.

I was keenly anticipating the super moon this week, excited to bath in her once in a lifetime luminescence. Even from our hillside perch overlooking the east coast, she remained mostly hidden behind a veil of cloud, showing us only fleeting glimpses. I read that this Taurus super moon was a time to reflect on what really matters and to assess whether we are living in alignment with our true values and purpose. A perfect opportunity to connect deeply with our authentic selves. Like most journeys of personal growth and recalibration, this moon was a slow reveal, gathering in momentum and culminating in a sublime showing when the conditions were right. This is not unlike my journey of transformation since arriving in the country. Sometimes propelled along by a desperate need to make sense of challenging circumstances but mostly in response to a growing desire to reconnect with my higher self and true purpose. In the process of managing life, multitasking and trying to prove myself, I lost touch with what really ignited my spirit and what …